Oak Ridge City Historian Bill Wilcox, left, with Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of President Harry S. Truman, who made the decision to use atomic bombs on Japan at the end of World War II. Wilcox helped Daniel with background information for his new book on the decision to use the bombs. (Submitted photo)
Oak Ridge City Historian Bill Wilcox will discuss the last eight days of World War II during a presentation next week.
It starts at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 11, at the Wildcat Den at the Midtown Community Center.
“Most Oak Ridgers know the story of Oak Ridge’s founding in 1942 as part of the Manhattan Project and about how the uranium 235 for the world’s first atomic bomb used in warfare, ‘Little Boy,’ helped end World War II,” said a press release from the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. “Helped is correct. The two atomic bombs really did help, but even after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there was no agreement in Japan’s ruling circle on surrender.”
It said Wilcox will describe the “agonizing and tortuous days” for the Japanese Supreme Council and the Emperor between Monday, Aug. 6, 1945, and the Tuesday of the following week, Aug. 14, 1945, when the war ended.
“While Oak Ridgers welcomed the peace, they were astounded by the details of their own personal role in helping bring that peace about,” the release said. “This story of the Japanese struggle to a decision of surrender is often missed, like those that miss the potential deaths from an invasion of the Japanese mainland. The Allied forces were attempting anything they could think of to end the awful killing of World War II.”
At the time, the release said, it was thought that Russia would soon declare war on Japan. The Potsdam Conference, just ended, resulted in a demand for unconditional surrender.
“The situation was complicated to say the least,” the release said.
For more information on the nonprofit ORHPA, call (865) 865-481-0542 or visit www.ORHPA.com.
The Midtown Community Center is at 102 Robertsville Road.
Jason Allison says
I look forward to reading this book. Mr. Wilcox is a very charming man and can give Mr. Daniel all the information he will ever need and then some.